Published: Monday, January 14, 2013 at 7:02 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, January 14, 2013 at 7:02 p.m.

A local couple spent the first week of their marriage free, but could spend the next nine years in separate prison cells as they serve time for cocaine distribution.

Tanna Hawkins, 30, and Tara Robinson Hawkins, 28, were married the first week of January, something they did knowing their individual guilty pleas would result in the prison sentences.

The convictions on unrelated charges would have also prevented them from cohabiting after their release because convicted felons on probation, as they will be after they've served their time, can't live together unless they're married.

The couple returned to court last week for their respective sentencing hearings, which were held in District Judge Bruce Simpson's courtroom, Tanna Hawkins' mother said.

At one point during the sentencing, a deputy gave Tara Hawkins a field sobriety test because her eyes were red. She was not intoxicated; her eyes were red because she'd been crying, said John Thomas, the attorney who represented them.

Tanna Hawkins choked up a bit, as well, as he thanked Simpson and Assistant District Attorney Rene Gautreaux, an unusual statement coming from a convict, Thomas said.

“ ‘You won't see me no more because I'm getting my life straight,' ” his mother, Alice Hawkins Celestine, recalls him saying in court. “ ‘This is my last time. I'm going the right way. I learned my lesson, I'm going to turn my life around.' ”

The couple decided to marry after Thomas told Tanna Hawkins that the two wouldn't able to live together — as they sporadically did in Larose — after their release.

The Hawkins are currently being housed in the Lafourche Parish jail, but they will likely be transferred to different prisons, Thomas said.

“They had a short honeymoon, and they'll have a long period of contemplation,” Thomas said.

Celestine thinks the couple will keep their promises, both to be faithful and stay out of trouble.

“Both of their minds are set on doing right. That's behind them,” Celestine said. “They're talking about having a family once they get out and getting their lives together.”

The day before the sentencing, the Hawkins and Robinsons had a big dinner in Raceland to say good-bye, Celestine said.

Tanna and Tara's crimes were unrelated and each had prior drug offenses, Thomas said.

As far as she knows, neither one introduced the other to cocaine, Celestine said.

Simpson recommended each for a drug-treatment program, which could help them get out of prison early, Thomas said.

Simpson also strongly suggested that the couple, both high-school dropouts, earn their GEDs in prison, Celestine said.

Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.

<p>A local couple spent the first week of their marriage free, but could spend the next nine years in separate prison cells as they serve time for cocaine distribution.</p><p>Tanna Hawkins, 30, and Tara Robinson Hawkins, 28, were married the first week of January, something they did knowing their individual guilty pleas would result in the prison sentences. </p><p>The convictions on unrelated charges would have also prevented them from cohabiting after their release because convicted felons on probation, as they will be after they've served their time, can't live together unless they're married.</p><p>The couple returned to court last week for their respective sentencing hearings, which were held in District Judge Bruce Simpson's courtroom, Tanna Hawkins' mother said.</p><p>At one point during the sentencing, a deputy gave Tara Hawkins a field sobriety test because her eyes were red. She was not intoxicated; her eyes were red because she'd been crying, said John Thomas, the attorney who represented them.</p><p>Tanna Hawkins choked up a bit, as well, as he thanked Simpson and Assistant District Attorney Rene Gautreaux, an unusual statement coming from a convict, Thomas said.</p><p>“ 'You won't see me no more because I'm getting my life straight,' ” his mother, Alice Hawkins Celestine, recalls him saying in court. “ 'This is my last time. I'm going the right way. I learned my lesson, I'm going to turn my life around.' ”</p><p>The couple decided to marry after Thomas told Tanna Hawkins that the two wouldn't able to live together — as they sporadically did in Larose — after their release.</p><p>The Hawkins are currently being housed in the Lafourche Parish jail, but they will likely be transferred to different prisons, Thomas said.</p><p>“They had a short honeymoon, and they'll have a long period of contemplation,” Thomas said.</p><p>Celestine thinks the couple will keep their promises, both to be faithful and stay out of trouble.</p><p>“Both of their minds are set on doing right. That's behind them,” Celestine said. “They're talking about having a family once they get out and getting their lives together.”</p><p>The day before the sentencing, the Hawkins and Robinsons had a big dinner in Raceland to say good-bye, Celestine said. </p><p>Tanna and Tara's crimes were unrelated and each had prior drug offenses, Thomas said.</p><p>As far as she knows, neither one introduced the other to cocaine, Celestine said.</p><p>Simpson recommended each for a drug-treatment program, which could help them get out of prison early, Thomas said.</p><p>Simpson also strongly suggested that the couple, both high-school dropouts, earn their GEDs in prison, Celestine said.</p><p>Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.</p>